Pilz Collection
Pilz is Volker Haug Studio’s new one-of-a-kind table lamp collection, launching at Melbourne Art Fair 2026 as part of the inaugural FUTUREOBJEKT salon.
This year sees the much-anticipated debut of FUTUREOBJEKT at the Melbourne Art Fair – a new salon aimed at platforming collectible design. Running from 19-22 February at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, it will feature 20 of the most cutting-edge voices in contemporary design, architecture and objects.
Among those voices is Melbourne’s Volker Haug Studio – renowned for its innovative, sculptural lighting and hands-on approach to making – which will launch a new collection, Pilz, at the event. The collection (named after the German word for mushroom) comprises Murano glass table lamps crafted in Venice and shaped through close collaboration with master artisans.
The studio team travelled to Murano to work directly with the glassblowers, continuing a relationship with Italian ‘maestri’ built over many years, beginning with the Blown Glass Anton collection. With the concept of the Pilz lamps only loosely formed, the Volker Haug team collaborated with the maestri, often perched on studio floors, both groups experimenting, observing and contributing as the prototype began to take shape.
“Each maestro brings their own accent, rhythm and subtle interpretation, which is reflected in the finished pieces,” reflects Volker Haug, founder of the eponymous studio. “The collective energy and collaboration are all embedded in the final work.” It was a significant experience for the Australians, “reinforcing our desire to continue working in this way and leaving us excited to explore more one-of-a-kind pieces in the future”.
The process involved a 4,000-year-old glassmaking technique, where each piece was individually hand-blown and colourful murrine designs were fused directly into the clear glass, creating the distinctive, jewel-like medallions. No two lamps are the same.
The delicate, mushroom-like forms range in height from 120 millimetres to 400 millimetres, making them equally adaptable to residential, gallery and hospitality settings. Balancing traditional craftsmanship with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, the collection is marked by organic forms, floral motifs and retro colour palettes. “For this collection, we wanted to create forms that feel both sculptural and playful, while honouring the centuries-old techniques that have been handed down through generations,” says Haug. “Each lamp is a celebration of craft, light and the joy of working with glass.”
This focus on craftsmanship and experimentation has defined Volker Haug Studio for more than two decades. Its presence at the salon also reflects the practice’s growing international reputation, with major global commissions, collaborations and design fair showings complementing its strong Australian base.
